Uniworld Christens S.S. Antoinette

UniworldRiver Cruises’ newest vessel, the S.S. Antoinette, was christened on March 19 in a lavish ceremony in the Dutch port of Amsterdam. Uniworld President Guy Young was in attendance for the ceremony, along with De Hoop Shipyard owner Patrick Jansen, Chief Amsterdam Harbor Master Janine van Oosten, Amsterdam Tourism CEO Stefan Diender, and godmother, namesake and head designer Antoinette Tollman.

In addition to being the driving force behind this new ship, Tollman is also the daughter of Uniworld owners Stanley and Beatrice Tollman, who have passionately built their company from the ground up.

The Amsterdam ceremony was capped off with the traditional smashing of champagne against the hull of the S.S. Antoinette. A full brass band was also on hand to celebrate the occasion.

Dubbed a “Super Ship,” the S.S. Antoinette represents an entirely new class of ship for the line. Designed to resemble a modern take on the Palace of Versailles, the ship boasts a blue Strauss 10-foot baccarat chandelier that once hung in New York’s historic Tavern on the Green.

The theme of elegance continues throughout, with Brazilian marble representing the colors of the French flag imported to adorn the floors and walls. In a final nod to the famous court of Louis XIV, S.S Antoinette includes a 19th century Venetian glass mirror set above the reception desk.

Unique to S.S. Antoinette is the new Leopard Lounge. Located all the way aft on the sun deck, the Leopard Lounge provides excellent views and is also available to suite guests for dinner.

S.S Antoinette also boasts a first for the river cruise industry: an onboard cinema. Capable of seating 20 guests, the Queen’s Lounge features plush seating and Dolby Surround sound technology, as well as popcorn and candies to snack on.

The S.S. Antoinette set sail this past Sunday on her maiden voyage, Uniworld’s popular eight-day “Castles along the Rhine” itinerary from Basel to Amsterdam. She is the third new ship for Uniworld this year. Other notable new vessels include the River Victoria and Douro Spirit, which will cruise the Russian and Portuguese waterways respectively.

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[…] two new ships for the 2014 season: the S.S. Catherine, sister-ship to the highly successful S.S. Antoinette; and the S.S. Alexandra, which was to be a sister-ship to the smaller, more classically styled […]

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